Christmas Lights Cupcakes

Tender chocolate cupcakes are topped with fluffy white frosting, a swirl of black icing, and colorful m&m's to mimic a string of Christmas lights. The perfect festive cupcake for the season!

I'm such a delinquent blogger for not getting this post up sooner, but I'm #doingmybest so THANK YOU so much for the support during this stressful time of year. Seriously, you're the best. Have a cupcake.

We love you Luis!!

This past weekend was my old company's holiday party, so of COURSE I finagled myself a plus one in the form of my best friend Amanda. Can't keep me away! I'm everywhere.

Annnd I helped DJ. Yes. This happened.

And boy, was it better* than the two I attended when I actually worked there! We danced, we ate, we drank, we socialized, we had uncomfortable conversations with our old managers, we did it all! And then made it to Policy after (where we drank water because hydration is important) and then soundly into our own beds. How novel!

At bars like real humans!

*Not necessarily "better" especially because they rudely moved it from DC to Tysons, but like, the first time I didn't black out at the party and actually made it to bars with everyone afterwards.

Come Sunday morning, I felt great! I made it to the gym, made these cupcakes, realized I didn't need 24 cupcakes in my house, and started texting my friends to see if they wanted cupcakes. They obviously said "No, Jesse, you weirdo! I hate cupcakes and happiness!"

...jk they all said yes! Mission in mind, I donned a Santa hat and chunky red scarf, scraped the snow (!!!) off my windshield, and set out on a journey of DC and Arlington, delivering cupcakes. This is my good deed for the year, and don't you forget that, Real Santa. No coal for me!

As soon as I arrived at my parents' house post-cookie journey, the mailman arrived with THIS NEW BOOK! I'm so so so excited to read it and hope it provides insight on how to be on the Bachelor (Elan is one of the producers). Like, guys... please?

ANYWAY. Make these cupcakes! They're very easy and very impressive and everyone will love them, and if they don't you have my express written permission to tell them they're a grinch to their face.

Christmas Lights Cupcakes

To make these cupcakes, you will need:- 1 batch chocolate cupcakes (I was pressed for time so I used a box mix, but I recommend this recipe if you're making them from scratch)- 2 cans vanilla frosting (once again, pressed for time, but here's a good frosting recipe)- Tube black frosting- 1 bag m&m's

Make your cupcakes according to recipe directions, then spoon the batter into your cupcake liners. Bake for 17 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Set aside and let cool while you go sing a Christmas carol or string popcorn for the Christmas tree or something, idk.

Once your cupcakes are cool, it's time to frost! I used my frosting gun for this, but you could also use a large circular tip in a pastry bag. Fill your pastry bag with fluffy white frosting, then pipe big swirls onto each cupcake. There's a reason you need a double batch of frosting for these - lay that frosting on THICC.

Once that's done, it's time to add our light cord! Using a tube of black icing with a thin nozzle, pipe a swirl of black frosting onto each cupcake, beginning from the outside and working in. This might be tough at first, but you'll get into a rhythm before you know it.

Finally, we'll add the "lights"! Add colorful m&m's around the perimeter of the black frosting, being careful with your color selection. (Who can spot the UVA cupcake?!)

Once you've done this, you're set! Ready to play Santa and drive them to your friends, or eat them all yourself. To each their own!!